Electrical switch.



No. 645,984. Patented Mar. 27, I900;

J. C. TOURNIEB.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

Application filed Sept. 25, 1899.)

(No Model.)

Wiiiiiliiill R Witnesses. Jnventg duliuscflburnier fa: NORRIS PETERS ca.vHbTo-uma, WASHINGTON, u l

Nrrnn STATES PATENT FFICE.

JULIUS CH. TOURNIER, OF SCIIENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERALELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,984, dated March27, 1900. Application filed September 25, 1899. Serial No. 731,537. (Nomodel.)

improvement on the type of socket-switch.

having an oblong contact-maker, a loosely- I connected rotatable spindletherefor, and a spring-terminal for giving a snap action to thecontact-maker.

It consists generallyin providing means for permitting the contact-makerof the switch in a-lamp-socket to move farther in the direction of theconductor which engages with the lamp-terminal after it has establishedelectrical communication therewith. I have found also that the rubbingcontact between a contact-maker and stationary conductor, both composedof thebrass commonly used in such lamps, is not'always satisfactory andthat this fault canbe remedied by interposing a small piece of adifferent metal, such asphosphor-bronze, as by attaching it to one ofthe contacts. Either of the contacts could be made entirely of thedifferent metal, but this would cost more. In order to obtain thiscontinued movement of the contact-maker, I cause it'to make yieldingcontact with the conductor, and for this purpose I provide, for example,one construction consisting of a separate spring interposed between, asby securing it to, the conductors. Other equiva lent mechanicalstructures can readily be designed. The material of which I propose tomake this spring is phosphor-bronze,although a portion of the beneficialresults of the invention would follow from the use of a brass spring.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a socketembodying my invention; Fig. 2, an elevation with the supporting-cap andeasing removed, and Fig. 3 a plan of Fig. 2.

A is a spring-conductor of a different metal from the brasslamp-retaining sleeve S or other conductor making contact with alampterminal when the lamp is in the socket, and the best material ofwhich to make the spring I have found to be phosphor-bronze. The,function of the spring A may be obtained by 1 various modes ofconstruction; but it is shown here as a separate strip secured to theflange fof the sleeve S by a screw R in one end, which extends throughthe porcelain base 0 and is held by a nut N to secure the sleeve S tothe base. The base 0 serves as a support for the switch-member frame F,which is secured to the base by the screw Q. The spring A is so arrangedthat it will not be killed by the other parts, but that the desireddegree of its resilient quality is utilized. In the case shown the freeend extends over the cavity in the base which contains the contactmaker0 to normally leave a space between itself and the flange of the sleeveS. The socket-terminal B is connected to line at the binding-post P andengages with the other lamp-terminal when the lamp is in the socket.

Adapted to engage with the spring A is an oblong switch-piece orcontact-maker O, which is mounted for a few degrees of lost motion uponthe rotatable spindle D, the lat ter being provided with the insulatinghandle H and the retaining-lugs L. A second spring A, preferably also ofphosphor-bronze, suitably secured to a frame F, bears against thecontact-maker O on the side opposite to the spring A, and these twosprings operate jointly. on the contact-maker. The spring A is connectedto line at a suitable binding post, and when the spindle is rotated itwill be depressed by the oblong contact-maker O, which will then makecontact with the spring A, which spring will then share with A theresistance offered by the rotating oblong block, and the spring A willalso afford a good rubbing contact.

When the spindle is turned to open the 5 switch, the lost motion of theblock, with the force of the springs A and A, gives it a snapdisconnecting movement.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-- 1. In a socket for an electric lamp, the combinationwith an insulating-support, of a,

yielding line-terminal mounted thereon, a conducting lampretainersecured to said support and adapted to conduct current to the lamp, acontact-maker mounted within the insulating-support and adapted toengage with said line-terminal, and means whereby said contact-maker canestablish electrical communication with said lamp-retainer, and thenmove forward toward the latter.

2. Asocket, which comprises an insulatingsupport, a screw-threadedconducting-sleeve secured to said support, a contact maker and breaker,and a strip of difierent metal from that of the sleeve andcontact-maker, which is secured between said sleeve and said support.

3. In an electric-lamp socket, the combination with a contact-maker, ofa conductingspring adapted to be engaged by said con tactmaker, and anunyielding conductor adapted to engage with a lamp-terminal and withsaid spring-contact, and to serve as an abutment for the spring-contactwhen the latter is engaged by the contact-maker.

4. In a lamp-socket, the combination with a rigid conductor adapted tomake contact with a lamp-terminal, of a conducting-spring, and acontact-maker adapted to cause the said spring to abut against saidconductor.

5. In an electric-lamp socket, the combination with aninsulating-support carrying a conductor adapted to support a lamp andengage a terminal thereof, of a contact-maker, and a conducting-piececomposed of a matebination with an insulating-support, of ascrew-threaded conducting-sleeve having a flange by which it is securedto said support, said sleeve being adapted to receive a screwthreadedlamp-base, a contact-maker mounted within said support, and meanswhereby said con tact maker can move toward the flange of said sleeveafter it has established electrical communication with said sleeve.

7. In a socket for an electric lamp, the combination with aninsulating-support, of a conducting lamp-retainer secured thereto, acontact-maker, and a yielding conductor secured between the saidinsulating-support and said lamp-retainer.

8. In a socket for an electric lamp, the combination with a rigidconductor adapted to engage with a lamp-terminal, of a separateconducting-spring secured to said conductor, and a contact-maker adaptedto cause said spring to abut against said conductor, whereby said springis compressed between the conductor and contact-maker.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day ofSeptember, 1899.

JULIUS CH. 'IOURNIER.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN 13. HULL, GENEVIEVE HAYNES.

